SPCL Division Two cricket: Sway Cricket Club clinch a seven-wicket victory over Hartley Wintney
SPCL Division Two
Hartley Wintney CC 122
Sway CC 124-3
Thanks mainly to an excellent third-wicket stand from Sway’s returning twins Dan and Josh Bailey, the hosts ended a four-game winless streak.
Sway had been on an uncharacteristically poor run, but they were back to their best on Saturday at Jubilee Fields, racing to a seven-wicket victory over Hartley Wintney.
The win leaves the newly promoted side, who won the SPCL Division Three title last season, in fourth place.
Sway were more than grateful to the Bailey twins Dan (38 not out) and Josh (34) – who returned from university – for their third-wicket 67-run stand, which eliminated any chance of the visitors escaping triumphantly.
At number six, visitor Ed Philpott (30) did manage what might have been the beginnings of a mid-order Hartley revival. But the Sway bowling attack was mean and unrelenting, and Hugh Bernard (1-21) soon rearranged his stumps.
However, the damage was already largely done, and the visitors were dumped for a meagre 122, with no other batsman reaching the 18-run mark.
The niggardly Jon Waller opened the bowling, and his unerring away swing was unplayable in his 10 overs, which cost his side just 16 runs while snaring two wickets.
There were wickets too for Dave Steadman (2-30), Jon Grasham (1-8), and Rich Thomas (1-260, while spinner Olly Marshall bagged a late 3-11.
In reply, Sway openers Will Millard (14) and John Walter (13) were seemingly in total control until both departed in quick succession, leaving their side at 41-2.
That brought the Bailey double act together, and what followed was a succession of refreshing, hard-hitting boundaries, with 10 boundaries between them, putting the outcome beyond doubt.
With Josh Bailey stumped on 34 runs, skipper Dave Steadman joined with 15 or more runs required for the win, and he clubbed a Mark Teale (0-17) delivery for four to reach 124-3 with 23 overs to spare.
Sway returns to action at home against Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday at 12.30pm.
